Author archives

Marcus P. Zillman, M.S., A.M.H.A., eSolutions Architect and Executive Director of the Virtual Private Library, is an international Internet expert, author, keynote speaker and corporate consultant in the area of information retrieval, knowledge discovery, knowledge harvesting, artificial intelligence and bots/intelligent agents. He has created numerous world wide web sites including 51 Subject Tracer™ Information Portals and Blogs; written a number of internet miniguides, white papers and books; hosted over 160 weekly Internet television shows, writes a weekly and monthly column on Current Awareness on the Internet; writes a monthly newsletter, Awareness Watch, and delivers keynote presentations throughout the international marketplace. He also actively delivers one and two day workshops for key industry sectors displaying how the Internet can be used as a tool to maintain current awareness and professional competencies. Additional links: Marcus P. Zillman's Blog.

2020 Guide to Web Data Extractors

This guide by Marcus P. Zillman is a comprehensive listing of web data extractors, screen, web scraping and crawling sources and sites for the Internet and the Deep Web. These sources are useful for professionals who focus on competitive intelligence, business intelligence and analysis, knowledge management and research that requires collecting, reviewing, monitoring and tracking data, metadata and text.

Subjects: AI, Big Data, KM, Search Engines, Search Strategies, Social Media

Elder Resources on the Internet 2019

The current estimated U.S. population 65 and older has reached a new milestone: 53,710,125 and growing daily. To provide come context to this number, “50 million seniors is more than the population of 25 states combined…” By 2030, the estimated population of those over 65 will be 70 million. This timely guide by Marcus Zillman identifies a range of online resources on aging, assisted living, senior health care and senior legal issues, as well as information on retirement.

Subjects: Elder Law, Ethics, Government Resources, Health, Legal Research

Online Research Browsers 2019

Marcus Zillman’s guide highlights multifaceted browser alternatives to mainstream search tools that researchers may regularly use by default. There are many reliable yet underutilized applications that facilitate access to and discovery of subject matter specific documents and sources. Free applications included here also offer collaboration tools, resources to build and manage repositories, to employ data visualization, to create and apply metadata management, citations, bibliographies, document discovery and data relationship analysis.

Subjects: Business Research, KM, Search Engines, Search Strategies

Manage Information Overload Resources 2019

As we are challenged each day to expertly respond to an overwhelming amount of information, much of it not relevant to our requirements, it is a major undertaking to exercise our choices skillfully as well as to balance our knowledge resources to best serve our objectives. Marcus Zillman’s guide offers both broader resources on how to manage information overload, as well as sources, tools and techniques to facilitate research productivity.

Subjects: Internet Resources, Internet Resources - Web Links, KM, Legal Research, Technology Trends

Deep Web Research and Discovery Resources 2019

How big is the Deep Web? It is estimated to comprise 7,500 terabytes – although an exact size is not known, and the figures vary widely on this question. The magnitude, complexity and siloed nature of the Deep Web is a challenge for researchers. You cannot turn to one specific guide or one search engine to effectively access the vast range of information, data, files and communications that comprise it. The ubiquitous search engines index, manage and deliver results from the Surface web. These search results include links, data, information, reports, news, subject matter content and a large volume of advertising that is optimized to increase traffic to specific sites and support marketing and revenue focused objectives. On the other hand, the Deep Web – which is often misconstrued as a repository of dark and disreputable information [Note – it is not the Dark Web], has grown tremendously beyond that characterization to include significant content on a wide range of subject matters covering a broad swath of files and formats, databases, pay-walled content as well as communications and web traffic that is not otherwise accessible through the surface Web. This comprehensive multifaceted guide by Marcus Zillman providers you with an abundance of resources to learn about, search, apply appropriate privacy protections, and maximize your time and efforts to conduct effective and actionable research within the Deep Web.

Subjects: Big Data, Business Research, Competitive Intelligence, Discovery, Encryption, Privacy, Search Engines, Search Strategies

Guide to Privacy Resources 2019

This guide by Marcus Zillman is a comprehensive listing of free privacy applications, tools and services that users may implement across multiple devices. These applications are from a range of sources that include small and large tech companies as well as subject matter specific websites, consumer industry groups and organizations. The focus of this article is on leveraging the latest technology and information that allows users to: (1) identify privacy issues and (2) implement privacy protections specific to their requirements, that span email, phone calls, chats, text messages, web browsing, computer drives and files, networks, collaboration spaces, and your photos.

Subjects: Computer Security, Cybersecurity, Email Security, Encryption, Privacy, Social Media, Viruses & Hoaxes

A Quick Guide to Searching the Web

Web research expert Marcus Zillman’s new quick guide is a valuable resource for those who continue to rely on just one search engine for all their search requirements. Zillman’s goal is to offer readers who are not necessarily highly proficient in web research a selected and effective group of resources from which to choose to conduct searches as well as to engage in knowledge discovery. The article also explains and suggests alternative methods and techniques that you can immediately apply to your research to obtain more comprehensive, actionable results.

Subjects: Internet Resources, Internet Resources - Web Links, Search Engines, Search Strategies

Web Guide for the New Economy 2018

This new comprehensive guide to reliable and wide ranging resources on the New Economy by Marcus Zillman provides researchers who focus on law, finance and business sectors with many options from which to choose specific to sources of data, analytical information, statistics and knowledge published by the federal government, corporations, NGOs, nonprofits and subject matter experts as well as publishers. Zillman also includes Open Data Sets and databases that are available to the public.

Subjects: Big Data, Business Research, Competitive Intelligence, Economy, Financial System, Internet Resources - Web Links, Legal Research